Dark political games, coupled with human sacrifices, always excited the consciousness of a simple layman. The events of 2003 were heatedly discussed by the public, but no one has come to a consensus so far. To try to figure out the reasons for the US invasion of Iraq, we will have to turn to the source of our wisdom - history.
The American-Iraq war of 2003, if you can call it that, was the result of "big political games" and numerous local conflicts originating in the distant 80s.
Background to the conflict
In 1980, the newly minted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein decided to put an end to territorial disputes with Iran. Supported by the United States and the USSR, on September 22, without declaring war, he sent his troops into Iran. Thus began one of the longest wars of the twentieth century.
At the same time, the Soviet Union defended democracy and the current government in Afghanistan with limited forces. The main opponents of the democratic party were the Dushmans and other radical Islamic groups in this distant, hot country. Later, Islamic groups from other regions began to gather there.
American President Jimmy Carter, dissatisfied with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan (1979), issued orders almost immediately, and soon one of the most expensive and covert CIA Cyclone operations began.
US intelligence agencies actively sponsored Afghan militants, including a group of then little-known Osama bin Laden. Formally, the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan and the US subversive activities directed against the USSR, led to the birth of such a monster as al-Qaeda. After the withdrawal of the troops of the Soviet Union in 1989, bin Laden declared jihad to the entire Western world, especially to the Americans.
The occupation of Kuwait
By that time, the Iran-Iraq war had already ended. In early August 1988, Iran was finally exhausted and agreed to peace talks. Iraqi President Hussein loudly declared this a personal victory and set about agreeing on conditions. The peace agreement was signed on August 20. Both countries suffered irreparable losses in the war, and in order to somehow compensate for the loss-making slaughter, inspired by Saddam accused Kuwait of stealing oil from its territories … And got involved in a new war.
By the way, the next conflict lasted only two days, Kuwaiti troops were defeated and the Iraqi army calmly occupied the country. The occupation of Kuwait posed great problems for the countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. The incumbent king of the country, Fadhu, repeatedly offered his help in providing defense, then bin Laden, who was then in the country. Fadh declined such an offer and agreed to work with the United States.
In August 1990, a UN resolution was passed calling on the Iraqi government to liberate Kuwait. At the same time, an arms embargo was imposed on Iraq. On August 8, US President George W. Bush personally demanded that Hussein withdraw troops. At the same time, a special operation of the United States and its allies began, which was called the Desert Shield. From August to November, allied military equipment, including aircraft, began to arrive in Saudi Arabia. At the end of November, the UN signed a document allowing any measures to be applied to Iraq within the framework of the UN Charter.
On the night of January 18, 1991, multinational forces launched a bombardment of Iraq. In just two days, about 4700 sorties were completed, during which time the airspace completely came under the control of the Allies. A large number of military installations were destroyed. Active bombing was carried out until February 23, every day the planes took to the air, making about seven hundred sorties a day.
On February 24, multinational forces launched a ground operation and began to actively move inland, which forced the Iraqi army to cease resistance. By the end of February, the Allied forces won an unconditional victory. Hussein agreed to comply with UN requirements and freed Kuwait.
The role of al Qaeda
On this the Gulf War ended, but Osama bin Laden began his invisible war. Underestimated by the American intelligence services, later declared by them to be "number one terrorist, " Osama launched vigorous action in the 90s. One of the first attacks was in 1992 in Yemen - the bombing of a hotel where American soldiers were located. In 1993, an explosion occurred in the underground garage of the World Trade Center. Terrorist attacks also boomed in Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
But the worst terrorist attack, perhaps in all history, occurred on September 11, 2001, as a result of which nearly 3, 000 people died. A group of 19 terrorists seized four passenger liners, two of them were sent to the towers of the World Trade Center. One plane crashed into the Pentagon. Another fell in a field 240 kilometers from Washington.
US intelligence agencies identified all participants in the attack and came to the conclusion that Al Qaeda was behind the attack, and they also found traces leading to Iraq. Later, these conjectures were indirectly confirmed by bin Laden himself. In fact, this event, amazing in its inhumanity, launched the process of overthrowing Saddam Hussein.
US invasion of Iraq
The US military invasion of Iraq with the support of Great Britain, Australia, Poland and Iraqi Kurds began on March 20, 2003. Hussein’s relationship with the terrorists was voiced as an official reason, and the development of weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear weapons) in Iraq was among the main reasons.
Active hostilities lasted several weeks, until April 12, when Baghdad was taken. Until May 1, US forces suppressed the remaining small centers of resistance of the Iraqi military. Saddam Hussein had left the capital by that time and was hiding in small settlements that remained loyal to his president. He will later be declared a war criminal, captured and executed.
Reasons for the invasion
Immediately before the invasion, its official cause was the development of nuclear weapons in Iraq. Many American politicians and the military have made reports about this threat. Later it turned out that there was no nuclear program in Iraq, but impressive stockpiles of chemical weapons of mass destruction were discovered, which, according to a UN resolution, Hussein had to destroy. Equipment for the production of chemical weapons was also discovered, which also went against the resolution.
After the sad events of September 11, the US government increasingly accused Iraq of having links with al-Qaeda, especially after bin Laden’s statements. The CIA secret documents published later dispelled these allegations - no one was able to unequivocally prove Hussein’s connection with bin Laden. Moreover, US intelligence agencies found out that "terrorist number one" offered his help to Hussein in 1995, but he refused.
Despite the denial of contacts with al-Qaeda, Iraq’s connection with small radical Islamic groups in the Middle East has been proven, including a small al-Qaeda branch located in Iraq.
The world media called another reason for the invasion - supposedly the Americans, thanks to the occupation, will gain complete control over Iraq’s resources, including the cherished oil. Contrary to general misconception, the US government had no influence on the production and sale of Iraqi oil. Local authorities themselves agreed and made deals with foreign investors. English and Chinese companies were among the first to enter the unsafe region. Later, the Russian Lukoil joined them.
Well, the most, probably, the craziest idea promoted by various populists and scandalous journalists is the personal hostility of George W. Bush to Hussein, a kind of vendetta, for the implementation of which he carefully prepared for several years.
